Critics have highlighted the failures of SB 562 in several articles published in the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times. According to a Senate analysis, SB 562 would carry a staggering price tag of $400 billion annually and an assumption of a 15% payroll tax on Californians’ paychecks. Continue reading→

SACRAMENTO – Today, the government-run healthcare proposal, Senate Bill 562, passed out of the Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations on a party line vote of 5 to 2.

This week, the Sacramento Bee and the Los Angeles Times published articles critical of SB 562 with its staggering $400 billion price tag and the assumption of a 15% payroll tax on the paychecks of Californians. Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel): Continue reading→

Mark Refowitz, Director of Orange County’s Health Care Agency (OCHCA), has announced plans to retire at the end of March.

Prior to his appointment on February 28, 2012, Mr. Refowitz had been the director of Behavioral Health Services for the agency since January 2004. In that capacity, he was responsible for implementation of the local Mental Health Act program, as well as the overall operation of the county’s Behavioral Health Services. Continue reading→

Governor Jerry Brown has continued to demand that a new managed healthcare organization (MCO) tax be imposed by the state legislature.

Brown and his fellow liberal Democrats who run the State Capitol are, no doubt, put out by the fact that, due to GOP gains in 2014 that denied the Democrats a supermajority, they can no longer raise taxes on a party-line vote. Continue reading→

Referendum to Allow Personal Belief Exemption from Mandatory Immunization Program for Schoolchildren

SACRAMENTO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced the proponent of a new referendum may begin collecting petition signatures.

The Attorney General prepares the legal title and summary that is required to appear on referendum petitions. When the official language is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State, and the referendum may be circulated for signatures. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to county elections officials. The Attorney General’s official title and summary for the measure is as follows: Continue reading→